Motor action capillary



Dec. 19, 1967 D. J. DONALIES 3,359,566

MOTOR ACTION CAPILLARY Filed Aug. 1, 1966 ELECTRICAL SIGNAL SOURCEELECTRODE MAG NET N S MAGNET I I /6 ELECTRODE INVENTOR. FIG 2 DANIEL J.DONALIES A TTORNEYS United States Patent York Filed Aug. 1, 1966, Ser.No. 569,463 3 Claims. (Cl. 346140) This invention relates to apparatusfor recording information and, in particular, to recording informationin the form of electrical signals or pulses on paper or the like withink.

More specifically, this invention relates to the art of recordingfacsimile signals with droplets of ink on paper or record receivingmaterial in response to electrical signals received from a remotesource. In the art of facsimile reproduction, the copy to be reproducedis scanned in a manner which will create electrical signals indicativeof dark and light areas on the original copy. For example, a spot oflight is moved across the surface of the document to be scanned andlight reflected from the surface of the document is used to activate aphotocell or similar device. When the light is reflected from a lightcolored spot on the paper, the photocell is actuated and when the lightspot encounters a dark area on the paper, the photocell is not actuatedthus electrical signals can be produced depending on whether or not thephotocell has seen reflected light or in response to the amount ofreflected light that the photocell has received. The electrical signalsare transmitted to a remote location where they are translated intolight and dark spots on a piece of paper to produce a facsimile of theoriginal document. The present invention pertains to a device which isresponsive to such signals to lay down a spot of ink on a sheet ofmaterial such as paper. Thus, if the scanning of the original documentis in small incremental areas and electrical pulses indicative of darkareas are transmitted, then a drop of ink placed on the copy sheet whichis in response to that signal will produce a dark area on the copy sheetin the same relative position as the incremental area scanned.

Although there are many ink depositing devices known in the art, thepresent invention provides a novel method for controlling the flow ofthe liquid or ink through a capillary by utilizing the forces createdwhen an electric current is passed through a conductor in a magneticfield. In the present invention an electrical current is made to flowthrough a conductive liquid material which is positioned perpendicularto a magnetic field. The conductor, which in this case is the recordingink, will experience a force which will act perpendicular to both thecurrent flow and the flux of the magnetic field. The force experiencedis utilized to apply drops of ink to the surface of a paper or recordingmedium in response to the electrical current. Thus, if the electricalcurrent applied to the conductive ink is related to the electricalpulses received, then the ink deposited will correspond to theincremental areas as scanned on the original document.

It is the principal object of this invention to produce a facsimilereproduction of an original document by means of ink droplets depositedon a sheet of paper or the like in response to electrical pulses.

It is a further object of this invention to deposit droplets of ink inaccordance with the electrical signals.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a recording devicewhich utilizes a magnetic field and an electric current in the recordingmedium to produce ink droplets in response to electrical pulses.

These and other objects of this invention are obtained by means of acapillary positioned adjacent to a copy sheet in a magnetic field andhaving a pair of electrodes capable of transmitting current through aconductive liquid in the capillary. Electrically pulsing the electrodespro- 3,359,566 Patented Dec. 19, 1967 duces a force on the conductiveliquid longitudinal to the direction of the capillary, resulting inmovement and droplets of the liquid material onto the copy sheet.

For a better understanding of the invention as well as other objects andfurther features thereof, reference is bad to the following detaileddescription of the invention to be read in connection with theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a recording device embodying the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an inking capillary usedin the device shown in FIG. 1.;

In facsimile recordings, marks are made on a sheet of copy paper inresponse to electrical signals received from a remote source. There arevarious approaches to producing the marks on the paper. For example, anelectric spark may be used to produce a mark from carbon paper onto thecopy paper, or an electrolytic reaction on the copy paper may be used toproduce discoloration, or selectively discharging an electrostaticcharge on a photoconductive surface, and, as in the present invention,selectively depositing droplets of ink in accordance with electricalsignals.

The invention disclosed herein pertains to inking type or recorder andbasically consists of supplying conductive liquid ink through acapillary to the surface of a copy sheet. The capillary is positioned inand perpendicular to a magnetic field and has an electric current passedthrough the ink perpendicular to the capillary. By pulsing the currentpassing through the ink, droplets are caused to be deposited on thesurface of the paper or support material. FIGURE 2 shows the walls 10 ofa capillary tube 12 and the north and south poles of a magnet 14positioned adjacent to the capillary 12. The ink is intended to flowdown through the capillary tube 12 into contact with the surface of thecopy paper. The capillary is sized so that the ink will not flow withoutsome added force. A pair of electrodes 16 and 18- extend through thewalls 10 into contact with the ink inside the capillary. When anelectric current is placed on the electrodes 16 and 18 through the inkand the capillary 12, the ink is caused to flow through the capillarydepositing on the surface of the copy material.

It is well known that a current carrying conductor in a transversemagnetic field has a force exerted upon it. The magnitude of the forceis dependent upon the strength of the field and the magnitude of thecurrent. This is the principle which is the basis for the operation ofelectric motors and generators. It is also the principle upon which thepresent invention relies for the motive force which produces droplets tobe deposited on the copy paper. In this application the current carryingconductor are the electrodes 16 and 18 and the conductive ink in thecapillary 12. As seen in FIGURE 2, the conductive ink will form a closedcircuit between the two electrodes 16 and 18. The transversed magneticfield is produced by the electro-magnets 14 placed on each side of thecapillary 12 and connected to a source of electrical current, not shown.In FIGURE 1 a signal source 20 is connected to the electrodes 16 and 18by a pair of lead wires 22 and 24, respectively. The electrical signalsource 20 is only shown schematically since it does not constitute partof the invention herein and is well known in the art. The electricalsignals can originate from a remote source such as a facsimile scanningdevice or may be produced from a computer or a magnetic tape storagedevice.

Referring to FIG. 1 there is a rotatable drum 24 adapted to have a sheetof paper or record receiving material wrapped about its outer surface.The drum 14 is journaled for rotation by a motor MOT-1 at a speed whichis usually synchronized with the movement of an original document past afacsimile scanning station at a remote location; The motor MOT-Lalsodrives a lead screw 26 which advances a support block or nut 28 alongthe length of the drum 24.The block 28 supports the capillary '12adjacent to the drum 24. As the "drum rotates through one revolution,one line or incremental,

area of the copy paper passes beneath the tip of the capillary 12,-and'as the lead-screw rotates, the capillary 12 of copy paperistrave'rsed by successive rotations of the drum 24. Above the capillary12 there is mounted an ink reservoir 30 containing a supply ofelectrically conductive ink32;siich"as, for. example; Chart RecordingInk sold by the Esterbrook Company or any ink that hasadequate'electrical'conductivity.' v

When anelectrical'pulse is produced in lines 22 and 24 through theelectrodes 16 and 18, zawforceis created along the length of theconductor herein the electrode is advanced'in even increments so. thatthe entire; sheet 16,"the ink'supply, and the electrode 1S'.'With themagneticfield oriented so that the-lines oftforce extend from left toright between the magnets as seen inFIG. '2 and the current' flowsfrom'the electrode 16 tothe electrode 18, thenthe. forcelon'the'in'k'i's 'produced' in the direction which will'cause the ink toflow towards the record receiv- 1 tion, both the 'direction of thecurrent and the flux I3 0 throughthe capillary maybe reversed withoutchanging the-direction of 'force exerted on the, ink. Ifthe currentpassihgfthrbhgh the electro-rnagnet is reversed periodically and thecurrent passing through the ink is also reversed in synchronismWiththemagnetic field the force on the ink 'willbe in thesarne directionat all times. The function of each of the electrodes-in the capillarywill alternatefbetween' bei'ng'ac'athode and an anode thus preventingtheplating-out 'of metal. It may' be desirable to reversethe current inthe electro magnet and the signal 'current at'the end of each line ofscan or at the end of each-document thereby'reversing the cathode andtheanode and preventing any plating-out of the metal.

While the'inv'ention has been described with reference to thestructuredisclosed herein, it is not confined to the details set-forth;and this application is intended to cover such modifications-or" changesas may come within the purposes of the improvements or the scope ofthefollowing claims; i

What is claimed is: I

1. A recording apparatus of the type wherein information in the tor-n1of electrical signals is recorded on receiving sheets-by thedepositionof drops of ink including a capillary tube positioned adjacent to arecord receiving-sheet with anopen end closely spaced from the surfaceof the sheet,

means to supply an electrically conductive ink to the capillary, v

a pair of magnets positioned adjacent to the capillary in position toprovide a field of flux at right angles to the capillary, i

apair of electrodes extending into the capillary into contact with fluidin the base of the capillary, and

means to pass electrical current through the electrodes in accordancewith electrical causes the ink to flow.

2. Axrecording apparatus of the typewherein information in the formofelectrical signals is recorded on record receiving sheets or thelike'by'deposition of drops 'of ink including means to support a recordreceiving sheet;

a capillary tube capable of containing a conductive ink positionedadjacent to the support means and having anopen-end closely spacedtromthe surface of a record receiving member on the support means, meansto supply electrically conductive ink to the capillary, means to createa magnet field perpendicular to the capillary tube, i 1 v I a .pair ofelectrodes positioned perpendicularto the capillary and extendingintothe capillaryinto contact with the'conductive ink therein, 1 1

means to electrically energize the .electrode'siin response toelectrical signals; andr means; to produce scanning movement between thecapillaryand the supportmeans; s

3. The apparatusof claim 2 wherein the means to supporta'record-receiving sheet includes ,a rotatable. drum adapted to hold arecord receiving sheet and-the means toproduce scanning movementbetween, the capillary and'thetsu'pport means includes a dry means torotate the rotatable; drum and a means to move the capillary tubelongitudinallyalong' thesurfa-ce of the drum as'the drum is rotated? tothereby advance the capillary a given-distance forfleach, revolution ofthe drum.

I .1- References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS l,882,(l4 3' 10/1932Schroter 178-96 3,289,2l1 11/1966 Klavsons et a1. 3.46 TRICHA RD BtWILKINSON, Primary Examiner.

no. SIMMONS, Assistant Examiner.

signals received which

1. A RECORDING APPARATUS OF THE TYPE WHEREIN INFORMATION IN THE FORM OFELECTRICAL SIGNALS IS RECORDED ON RECEIVING SHEETS BY THE DEPOSITION OFDROPS OF INK INCLUDING A CAPILLARY TUBE POSITIONED ADJACENT TO A RECORDRECEIVING SHEET WITH AN OPEN END CLOSELY SPACED FROM THE SURFACE OF THESHEET, MEANS TO SUPPLY AN ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTIVE INK TO THE CAPILLARY,A PAIR OF MAGNETS POSITIONED ADJACENT TO THE CAPILLARY IN POSITION TOPROVIDE A FIELD OF FLUX AT RIGHT ANGLES TO THE CAPILLARY, A PAIR OFELECTRODES EXTENDING INTO THE CAPILLARY INTO CONTACT WITH FLUID IN THEBASE OF THE CAPILLARY, AND MEANS TO PASS ELECTRICAL CURRENT THROUGH THEELECTRODES IN ACCORDANCE WITH ELECTRICAL SIGNALS RECEIVED WHICH CAUSESTHE INK TO FLOW.